ConIFA World Football Cup 2018: Who are Ellan Vannin?

As part of The National Student's coverage of the ConIFA World Football Cup 2018, we are bringing you the low down on all 16 teams in the tournament. This time, we're introducing Ellan Vannin and the history of the island. Who are they?Ellan Vannin is the Manx name for the Isle of Man. The Isle of Man is a self-governing crown dependency in the Irish Sea. Queen Elizabeth II is the head of state and is represented by a Lieutenant Governor, Sir Richard Gozney. The chief minister elected by the Manx population, numbering 83,000 is Howard Quayle. The United Kingdom is responsible for defence. The island has a long history, first being colonised in 6500 BC by hunter-gatherers and fishermen. The Romans were aware of the island's existence but it is unclear if they invaded. In the 8th Century, it was taken over by The Vikings, who created the Tynwald, the Manx Parliament which exists to this day in the capital, Douglas.In 1266, the King of Norway ceded the island to Scotland, before King Edward's men captured it for England in 1290. It spent much of the following centuries alternating between the two. The Tynwald passed laws over the island, but they were subjected to approval by the crown until full Home Rule was obtained in 1866. In 1881, it became the first national legislative body to give voting rights to women. In 2016, UNESCO gave the whole nation biosphere reserve status, the first place to have this distinction.

The team and their ConIFA historyThe side competed in the first ConIFA World Football Cup in 2014, they topped their group and reached the final where they lost on penalties to the County of Nice, whom they had beaten in the group stage.They lost to the County of Nice again in the semi-finals of the 2015 ConIFA European Football Cup. They were due to take part in the 2016 tournament but pulled out as the British Foreign Office advised against travel to Abkhazia. In January, they were the first opponents of the Yorkshire team, drawing 1-1 in Fitzwilliam. Their 29-man preliminary squad contains mainly Manx based players, however, midfielder Alex Holden plays for Bottesford Town in the ninth tier of English football. Defenders Seamus Sharkey and Colin Doyle play for Sligo Rovers and Elite FC Dubai respectively. Famous Manx individualsNotable individuals who are from the Isle of Man or have lived there include art designer Archibald Knox, former Apprentice candidate Stuart Baggs, cyclist Mark Cavendish, Celtic defender Kieran Tierney, Maurice, Barry and Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees and British racing driver Nigel Mansell. Image Credit - Geograph.